Beta sheet tapes ribbons in tissue engineering

Abstract

There is described a material comprising tapes, ribbons, fibrils or fibers characterized in that each of the ribbons, fibrils or fibers have an antiparallel arrangement of peptides in a β-sheet tape-like substructure.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of treating and/or alleviating dental caries, comprising:
 contacting a composition comprising a peptide P11-4 (SEQ ID NO: 1) to an affected tooth surface, thereby treating the caries. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the peptide P11-4 (SEQ ID NO: 1) forms or is present as a gel at a physiological pH. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the peptide P11-4 (SEQ ID NO: 1) forms or is present as ribbons, fibrils or fibres at a physiological pH. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the peptide P11-4 (SEQ ID NO: 1) is conjugated to a bioactive peptide. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the peptide P11-4 (SEQ ID NO: 1) is conjugated to a therapeutically active molecule. 
     
     
       6. A method of promoting mineralisation or remineralisation of dental tissue, comprising:
 contacting a composition comprising a peptide P11-4 (SEQ ID NO: 1) to a dental tissue to be treated, thereby promoting mineralisation or remineralisation of the dental tissue. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the peptide P11-4 (SEQ ID NO: 1) forms or is present as a gel at a physiological pH. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the peptide P11-4 (SEQ ID NO: 1) forms or is present as ribbons, fibrils or fibres at a physiological pH. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the peptide P11-4 (SEQ ID NO: 1) is conjugated to a bioactive peptide. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the peptide P11-4 (SEQ ID NO: 1) is conjugated to a therapeutically active molecule. 
     
     
       11. A method of decreasing or suppressing demineralisation of dental tissue, comprising:
 contacting a composition comprising a peptide P11-4 (SEQ ID NO: 1) to a dental tissue. to be treated, thereby decreasing or suppressing demineralisation of the dental tissue. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the peptide P11-4 (SEQ ID NO: 1) forms or is present as a gel at a physiological pH. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the peptide P11-4 (SEQ ID NO: 1) forms or is present as ribbons, fibrils or fibres at a physiological pH. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the peptide P11-4 (SEQ ID NO: 1) is conjugated to a bioactive peptide. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the peptide P11-4 (SEQ ID NO: 1) is conjugated to a therapeutically active molecule. 
     
     
       16. A method of treating and/or alleviating dental hypersensitivity, comprising:
 contacting a composition comprising a peptide P11-4 (SEQ ID NO: 1) to a dental tissue to be treated, thereby treating and/or alleviating dental hypersensitivity of the dental tissue. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the peptide P11-4 (SEQ ID NO: 1) forms a gel or is present as a gel at a physiological pH. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the peptide P11-4 (SEQ ID NO: 1) forms or is present as ribbons, fibrils or fibres at a physiological pH. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the peptide P11-4 (SEQ ID NO: 1) is conjugated to a bioactive peptide. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the peptide P11-4 (SEQ ID NO: 1) is conjugated to a therapeutically active molecule.